(05-03-2025, 04:10 PM)MyManao Wrote:(05-03-2025, 06:41 AM)TomK Wrote: What next?
Drum circles! They’re really nifty, you can join any ol’ time one forms, and OMG there’s one somewhere in Puna pretty much all the time. So, grab your drum, you do have a drum, right Tom? and join in the holy orgy karma sutra with everyone!
What, you say you’re not a drummer? Bummer.
No, I don't have a drum; I've never had the need or inclination to own one. As I think I've already stated, unlike you, I'm not a new-age believer, and I prefer to stick to reality. I don't care if you think drum circles are "really nifty"; that's your opinion, not mine. In the meantime, many associate drum circles with the "new age" without explaining what it means. For example:
https://newagetowns.com/spiritual-puna/
"At least according to our day, there is a center. And it starts with ecstatic dance. Not necessarily because ecstatic dance is the center of the new age movement in Puna, but because on Sunday mornings, prior to the drum circle, the Kalani Retreat Center hosts a two hour ecstatic dance session. It’s held in a large auditorium with a wooden floor, a stage at one end and an altar at the other. Normally, there’s just a DJ, but during our visit in January, 2017, we were lucky to hear not just a DJ, but live musicians jamming along. A horn, drums, bass and lead guitar added a tremendous amount of texture and vibrancy to the scene. We learned on Koh Phangang, at the Half-Moon party, how much a drummer or guitarist helps bridge the gap between the distance of electronic music and human reception."
Incidentally, this is a great read: https://shamanicdrumming.com/healing_pow...ircle.html and here are a few quotes from that site:
"Next, you should smudge the space and all participants. Smudging cleanses the mind and environment in preparation for spiritual or inner work. The sacred smoke dispels any stagnant or unwanted energy and opens the energy channels of your body. Sage, cedar, and sweetgrass are traditionally used for smudging, but any dried herb is acceptable. Light the herbs in a fire-resistant receptacle and then blow out the flames. Then use a feather or your hands to draw the smoke over your heart, throat, and face to purify the body, mind, and spirit. Next, smudge your drum by passing it through the smoke. The drummers can then smudge themselves and their drums by passing a smudge bowl clockwise around the circle. Conclude the smudging by thanking the plant whose body made the cleansing possible.
"At this point, you may wish to invoke the powers of the Four Directions. This is an ancient shamanic rite practiced cross-culturally to access and honor the powers of creation."
"Once the group intention has been introduced, commence the second or healing round by drumming the pulsating lub-dub, lub-dub of a heartbeat rhythm. Stroke a steady heartbeat rhythm at around two beats per second. This magnetic pulse draws power from the spirit world into the drum circle. Each participant should clear his or her mind of everything. You must surrender all attachment to the desired outcome to achieve success. It is best to close your eyes and focus on the sound of the drums. Let the drums do the healing. The drums will shape available energy into a powerful vortex that will spiral out into the fibers of Mother Earth's web. When you feel the power ebbing, signal the end of the healing round with four booming beats.
This is stuff that's ongoing in Puna. If you're into it, fine, but don't expect others to accept it.